Ayala Land, Inc. (ALI) was organized in 1988 when Ayala Corporation decided to spin off its real estate division into an independent subsidiary to enhance management focus on its real estate business. ALI went public in July 1991 when its class "B" common shares were listed both in the Manila and Makati Stock Exchanges. On September 12, 1997, the Securities and Exchange Commission approved the declassification of ALI's common class "A" and common class "B" shares into common shares.

Ayala Land is the largest and most diversified real estate company in the Philippines. It has organized its operations into several business lines.

The government remains keen on selling the Food Terminal Inc. (FTI) property in Taguig within the year.

John Philip Sevilla, Finance undersecretary for privatization and the Corporate Affairs Group, told reporters the Aquino administration was looking at an “outright sale.”

“The P13-billion floor price remains the same as of this time,” Sevilla said.

The Arroyo administration tried to sell the property, too, at the same price but there were no bidders.

There are reports that big property developers Ayala Land Inc., SM Group, Robinsons Land Corp., Megaworld Corp. and Filinvest Land Inc. have all “formally” expressed interest in the property but nothing concrete has been made so far.

Sevilla clarified that FTI’s privatization plan has not been put on hold, contrary to reports, but was just delayed since the Aquino administration has been preoccupied with its Public-Private Partnership Program.

The Aquino administration said it was privatizing FTI to boost the country’s economic activity.

“In terms of raising revenues, the privatization of FTI is not urgent, but in terms of boosting the economy, yes, it is important that it is privatized this year. About 75 percent of the property is currently idle…somebody else could be investing there,” Sevilla said.

Pashare lang ng Technical Analysis (TA) ko sa ALI. Looks bullish and can be short-term traded (1-5 days) to me. Some technical signs that I find this stock to be appealing are as follows:

First Row: Moving Average Convergence-Divergence (MACD)
It appears that the faster moving average (red line) is about to cross the slower moving average (blue line). If the red line crosses-over the blue line, it means a buy signal for this stock.

Second Row: Relative Strength Index (RSI)
The RSI is forming higher lows while the prices on the charts are forming lower lows. This looks like a positive divergence to me, which is a bullish sign.

Third Row: Chart Pattern
Prices are building support at P14.84-P15, and last price is about to intersect with the 15-day moving average (red line). It can mean that the stock is starting to bottom out (safe to buy). Once prices move up and maintain above the 15-day moving average (red line), the ALI can do a short-term bull rally.

The second chart shows the intra-day chart of ALI (3 min. chart). When you see the daily chart above, it looks like the stock is in a downtrend. However, the 3 min. chart shows that ALI is in an uptrend today. Perhaps tomorrow, this uptrend can still continue.

The only thing negative that I see is that most of the foreign brokers, save Macquarie, are on the bear's side -- at least today. Philippine Equity Partners (PEP) is the top buyer today and the prior week.

AYALA LAND, Inc. expects to sell thrice as more residential units under its middle-income brand this year versus 2010 levels after enjoying robust demand in the first semester, an official said late last week.

The property developer is targeting to sell some 3,000 units in both vertical and horizontal developments under the Alveo Land segment versus the 974 units sold in 2010, Alveo Land Corp. Chief Operating Officer Robert S. Lao told reporters in a briefing.

In the first half alone, Alveo Land, which counts Serendra and the Columns as among its projects, already grew sales by 75% to 1,200 residential units and thus topped the 2010 full-year figure.

The sales target is supported by an increase in project launches slated for the year.

“This year, we are targeting to launch 12 projects. Last year was four to five projects,” Mr. Lao said.

Last week, the Ayala Land subsidiary formally launched its P1.7-billion four-tower condominium complex dubbed Marquee Residences which will rise in Angeles City, Pampanga.

The residential project comes on top of the firm’s existing developments in the area: the three-level Marquee Mall and the 35-hectare Marquee Place residential community that was launched in 2007.

Alveo Land will go on to start selling units in the planned expansion of The Lerato, a three-tower condominium development in Makati City, Mr. Lao said.

It will also start selling units in developments planned for Bonifacio Global City in Taguig and in Tagaytay, he said.

Ayala Land operates four major brands -- Ayala Land Premier for the high-end segment, Alveo for the upper and middle-income market, Avida for “affordable” units and Amaia for mass housing.

The developer is also into shopping centers, office space rental, and the tourism and hotel businesses.

Parent firm Ayala Land has earmarked a record P33 billion for capital expenditures this year to bankroll aggressive expansion.

Due to continued demand for residential products, Ayala Land had said it will launch more than 20,000 units across all residential brands -- double from last year -- with an estimated sales value of P57 billion.

Shares in Ayala Land, which reported a 36% surge in profits to P1.6 billion in the first quarter amid brisk sales, rose by 1.28% to close at P15.80 apiece on Friday. -- Neil Jerome C. Morales